Sidharth Shukla

Biography

Sidharth Shukla (12 December 1980 – 2 September 2021) was an Indian actor, host and model who mostly appeared in Hindi television and films. He was known for his roles in Balika Vadhu, Broken But Beautiful 3, and Dil Se Dil Tak. He was the winner of Bigg Boss 13 and Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 7. He hosted Savdhaan India, and India's Got Talent. He won the World's Best Model title in December 2005, beating 40 other participants from across Asia, Latin America, and Europe. He made his acting debut with a lead role in the 2008 show Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na. In 2014, Shukla made his Bollywood debut in a supporting role in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania.

== Life and career ==

=== 1980–2007: Early life and career beginnings === Sidharth Shukla was born on 12 December 1980 into a Hindu Brahmin family in Bombay (present-day Mumbai) to Ashok Shukla, a civil engineer employed at the Reserve Bank of India and Rita Shukla, a homemaker. His family was originally from the city of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. He lost his father because of a lung disease during his modelling days. He has two elder sisters. Shukla attended St. Xavier's High School, Fort, Mumbai and holds a bachelor's degree in Interior Design from Rachana Sansad School of Interior Design. Shukla has described himself as a very athletic child, and represented his school in tennis and football. He played against Italian football club, AC Milan’s under-19 team, on their Mumbai visit as part of Festa Italiana. After completing bachelor's degree in interior design, Shukla worked in an interior designing firm for a couple of years. In 2004, Shukla was runner-up in the Gladrags Manhunt and Megamodel Contest. He appeared in a video "Resham Ka Rumal" sung by Ila Arun. In 2005, he represented India at the World's Best Model contest held in Turkey, and became the first Indian, as well as the first Asian, to win the title beating 40 contestants from across Asia, Latin America, and Europe. After winning the title, he appeared in advertisements for Bajaj Avenger, ICICI and Digjam.

=== 2008–2011: Television debut ===

In 2008, he made his acting debut with a lead role in the television show Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na on Sony TV opposite Aastha Chaudhary. Shukla played Shubh Ranawat, a man dedicated to his work and family. The show ended in February 2009. In 2009, he appeared as Veer Vardhan Singh in Jaane Pehchaane Se... Ye Ajnabbi on Star One opposite Sanjeeda Sheikh and Aditi Tailang. The show ended in September 2010. After Jaane Pehchaane Se... Ye Ajnabbi ended, he also appeared in a few episodes of Aahat. In 2011, he appeared as Rahul Kashyap in Love U Zindagi opposite Pavitra Punia on StarPlus. The show was inspired by the Bollywood movie Jab We Met. He also appeared in an episode of CID.

=== 2012–2014: Breakthrough with Balika Vadhu and Bollywood debut ===

In 2012, Shukla appeared as District Collector Shivraj Shekhar, opposite Pratyusha Banerjee and Toral Rasputra in Balika Vadhu. It was his portrayal of Shiv in the long-running Colors TV social drama series Balika Vadhu which earned him widespread recognition and popularity, including several awards and nominations. He received the "GR8! Performer of the Year (Male)" award at the Indian Television Academy (ITA) Awards. He left the show in 2015, when his character, Shiv, died fighting with terrorists. In 2013, Shukla participated in the celebrity dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6, and was eliminated in the 11th week. It was reported that Shukla had signed a 3-film-deal with Dharma Productions. In 2014, Shukla made his Bollywood debut in the romantic comedy Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania in a supporting role playing the character of Angad Bedi, an NRI doctor and fiancé of the female protagonist played by Alia Bhatt. The film earned him an award for "Breakthrough Supporting Performance (Male)" in the 2015 Stardust Awards.

=== 2014–2018: Television hosting, Khatron Ke Khiladi and Dil Se Dil Tak === In 2014, Shukla was named the host of Savdhaan India. He introduced stories of common people who fought against crime. In 2015, after exiting from Balika Vadhu, he hosted India's Got Talent 6, with Bharti Singh, and the season finale was aired in June 2015. In 2016, Shukla won the stunt reality show Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 7. The same year, he hosted India's Got Talent 7 with Bharti Singh, and the season finale was aired in July 2016. Later in 2016, Shukla appeared as Mr. Chakraborty, an Indian businessman, in a Kazakhstan movie, Business in Kazakhstan. In 2017, he appeared as Parth Bhanushali in Dil Se Dil Tak with co-stars Rashami Desai and Jasmin Bhasin. The series was inspired by the Bollywood movie, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke. He left the series in December 2017.